Fireproof electrically-conducting bodies and process of manufacturing the same.



TNT @FFICE.

GEORG EGLY, OF TREPTOW, NEAR BERLIN, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO GEBRUEDER SIEMENS 8: 00., 0F LICHTENBERG, NEAR BERLIN, GERMANY.

FIREPROOF ELECTRIGALLY-CONDUCTING BODIES AND PROCESS OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME.

No Drawing.

ess for manufacturing fireproof, electrically-f conducting bodies.

According to my invention fireproof .cally bound.

bodies which are electrically conductiveat normal atmospheric.,temperatures are produced by forming a mass of silicon and by heating it in surroundings from which it can take carbon and oxygen. Preferably the silicon is mixed with another fireproof substance such as silicon .carbid and clay and formed into shape with this substance, for which purpose the mass may be rendered plastic either through a carbonizing bind ing medium such as resin or through a volatile'binding medium such as paraflin.

In manufacturing the material the process may be carried out for instance by fornr ing finely pulverized silicon and silicon carbid into shape through pressure and by heat ing this mixture in a carbon oxid environ ment (preferably to white heat temperature) whereby a solid homogeneous mass is pro duced, the admixtures of which are chemi- Generally a compound of SiC() is formed which is extremely hard and strong and has good conductivity. It is, however, possible that aside-from, or instead of the compound 'SiCO similar compounds of silicon, carbon and oxygen are formed. Still the analysis up to the present has always indicated a compound approximately equivalent to the formulaSiCO.

The finished product after assimilating carbon and oxygen has properties which are in many respects similar to those of the material. known in the art which is composed of carbon, silicon and nitrogen, and which is produced by heating silicon in a nitrogen environment in the presence of carbon.

If in the present process coarsely granulated silicon is used instead of the fine powder, the effect may be obtained that the individual silicon particles form a chemical compound with carbon and oxygen only on Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed September 12, 1910. Serial No. 581,614.

Patented Jail. 13, 1914.

fthe surface whereas the silicon in the interior remalns unimpaired.

If carbonic acid is used instead of oxid of carbon, aside. from the chemical com pound of silicon, carbon and oxygen, a certaln amount of silicic acid is formed which is entirely or partially volatilized in the strong heat and which in moderate heat remains in the mass.

Instead of using carbonic acid or carbon oxld alone, a mixture of both may be used in the present process. Small amounts of nitrogen are in this case not detrimental.

The bodies produced according to the present process may be used for instance as electrical conductors or resistance bodies or heating bodies and owing to their strength, hardness and their being fireproof, they may be also used for crucibles, grind-stones and similar objects. I claim: l. The process of producing fireproof electrically conductive bodies, which com prises fashioning a mass cont'ainingfree silicon into the form of the body, and subsequcutly causing the fashioned body to absorb carbon and oxygen throughout the mass.

2. The process of producing fireitircof electrically conductive bodies, which comprises fashioning a mass containing :trt: silicon into the form of the body, and subsequently causing the fashioned body containing silicon to absorb carbon and oxygen by heating the same at suitable temperature in an environment capable of supplying carbon and oxygen thereto.

3. The process of producing fireproof electrically conductive bodies, whichronn prises fashioning a mass containingfrec silicon, and another fireproof material into the form of the body and subsequently causing the fashioned body to absorb' carbon and oxygen by heating the same at suitable temperature in an environment capable of supplying carbon and'oxygen thereto.

L. The process of producing fireproof electrically conductive bodies which comprises fashioning a mass containing silicon and silicon carbid into the formof the body and subsequently causing the fashioned body containing silicon and silicon carbid to absorb carbon and oxygen by heating the same at suitable temperature in an environment capable of supplying carbon and oxygen thereto.

5. The process of producing fireproof electrically conductive bodies which comprises fashioning a mass containing free silicon and a carbonizing binder into the form of the body and subsequently causing the fashioned body to absorb carbon and oxygen by heating the same at suitable temperature in an environment capable of supplying carbon and oxygen thereto.

61 The process of producing fireproof electrically conductive bodies which comprises fashioning a mass containing free silicon and another fireproof substance with a temporary binder into the form of the body and subsequently causing the fashioned body to absorb carbon and oxygen by heating it in an environment capable of supplying carbon and oxygen thereto.

7. The' process of producing fireproof electrically conductive bodies which comprises fashioning a mass containing silicon and silicon carb'id with a temporary binder into the form of the body and subsequently causing the fashioned body to absorb carbon Copies of this-patent may be obtained for five cents each, Washington, D. 0.

and oxygen by heating the same at suitable temperature in an environment capable of supplying carbon and oxygen thereto.

8. The process of producing fireproof electrically conductive bodies, which comprises introducing carbon and oxygen into a fashioned body containing silicon under conditions suitable for the formation of a compound of the silicon carbon and oxygen thus brought into association.

9. A fireproof electrically conductive body bound together by a compound of silicon, carbon and oxygen, which is produced within the body.

10. A fireproof electrically conductive body containing silicon 'carbidand bound together with a compound of silicon, carbon ind oxygen, which is produced within the Ifi testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

WOLDEMAR HAUPT, Bruno BRUER.

by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, 

